Believe and Live When the Saviour said " 'Tis finished," Everything was fully done; Done as God himself would have it -- Christ the victory had won. Vain and futile the endeavor To improve or add thereto; God's free grace is thus commended-- To "believe," and not "to do." All the doing is completed, Now 'tis "look, believe and live:" None can purchase his salvation, Life's a gift that God must give; Grace, through righteousness, is reigning, Not of works lest man should boast: Man must take the mercy freely, Or eternally be lost. Albert Midlane, 1862 No. 535 in C.H. Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.   background and graphics by Mary Stephens CA; updated 2021